BLACK ARTISTS AND COUNTRY MUSIC

Country music owes everything to musical traditions derived from West Africa - and yet, Black artists have generally been excluded from the genre. Last month, Beyoncé became the first Black female artist to top the Billboard Country chart. However, some country stations refused to play her hit Texas Hold ‘Em, at least until online pressure became too much. This clip by @moyoafrica explores the significance.

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BLACK HOST DEFENDS RACIST JIBE AT UK POLITICIAN

A Black British TV host has caused a storm after defending alleged racist comments about a Black politician. It’s claimed in 2019, Conservative party donor, Frank Hester, said Diane Abbott made him want to ‘hate all Black women’ and that ‘she should be shot.’

However, GB News presenter Nana Akua, who has Ghanaian parents, reckons those words are NOT offensive. Listen to her bizarre argument during a televised debate with White author Amy Nickell.

In the meantime, the British Prime Minister says Hester’s remarks were ‘wrong and racist’ but his party won’t return Hester’s £10m donation.

Feel free to pile in with your comments.

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HAITIAN ACTIVIST: ‘OCCUPATION MEANS
HUMILIATION’

Kenya’s US-backed planned deployment of police to Haiti has hit another setback (phew!) with the resignation of the Caribbean nation’s unelected Prime Minister, Ariel Henry.

We got insight into what’s behind Haiti’s current woes, and why the Haitian people are so against outside ‘help,’ from an activist on the ground - Ezayi Jules from MOLEGHAF, a grassroots organisation on the island

In this clip, he reminds us of just how many occupations Haiti has had to endure and fight against, arguing that it’s a kind of ‘punishment’ for Haitians breaking their chains and founding the first free Black republic.

Hear him out and please also share your insights - they matter to us.

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SENEGAL OPPOSITION LEADERS FREED AHEAD OF POLLS

The release of Senegal’s main opposition leader from jail has sparked jubilant scenes on the streets of Dakar. It comes just days ahead of the country’s controversial presidential election.
Ousmane Sonko was freed along with his right-hand man, Bassirou Diomaye Faye.

It’s been a turbulent few months for the country after its leader, Macky Sall, postponed the ballot. It was due to be held on February 25th and he wanted to push it back until December. However, that was rejected by the country’s constitutional court.

Having completed two terms, Sall won’t be standing again, meaning a new president will be elected. But who will that be? It’s a race that’s too close to call!

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Jamaican dancehall star Vybz Kartel has had his murder conviction overturned. The 48-year-old, known as Adidja Palmer, appealed to the UK’s Privy Council in London, which is also the final court in Jamaica. It agreed that his trial in Kingston in 2011 - which saw him jailed for life (35 years minimum) - had been compromised by corruption: one of the jurors had been bribed and attempted to bribe other jurors. The case concerned Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams, who was allegedly bludgeoned to death - though his body hasn’t ever been recovered. The original trial lasted 65 days and was one of the longest in Jamaican legal history. The court in Kingston must now decide whether to retrial Kartel.

The artist has a number of hits under his belt - including Clarks, Romping Shop and Summer Time. He made headlines years back after admitting to skin bleaching. He also became the first dancehall artist to star in his own reality TV show, Teacha’s Pet.

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On this day 64 years ago, students at South Carolina State College and Claflin College in Orangeburg, South Carolina, braved the cold weather and turned out to protest segregation at lunch counters and in stores. S.H. Kress & Company was the main target because Black students had spent money at the restaurant, but they were not allowed to sit in the view of white customers.

The build-up to the protests had started in late February when about 40 students from the two institutions attempted to organise a sit-in at the 'white-only' lunch counter. However, this did not materialise because the store authorities quickly removed the stools at the counter and closed the business.

The city's leaders claimed outside agitators, like communists, had organised the student action. That is an argument often thrown around when the masses rebel. The city consequently outlawed picketing.

Continued….However, the students were not deterred. On 15 March, after the counter re-opened, Claflin College Student Council President Tom Gaither and South Carolina State College freshman Charles 'Chuck' McDew led nearly 1,000 students on a march to protest segregation and support sit-ins occurring in other South Carolina municipalities and across the US South.

Despite the peaceful nature of the march, police attempted to block the protest and demanded they return to campus. When students stood their ground, the officers attacked using clubs, tear gas and ice-cold water from fire department engines. Police arrested about 400 students during the melée.

On 18 March, they appeared in court, where the judge detained the students' attorney, Matthew Perry, for 'pursuing his case vigorously.' The protesters were convicted and fined $50 each, or $524 when adjusted for inflation. The US Supreme Court overturned the sentences following an appeal.

Even though the protest did not lead to the end of segregation, it was one of several setting the tone for future uprisings, announcing Black people would no longer suffer in silence.

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‘PALESTINIAN CONFLICT DIDN’T START OCTOBER 7’

The Global South is waking up, and we are here for it. At a joint press conference in Berlin, on March 11th, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim schooled German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on the Palestinian conflict by reminding him it did not start on October 7th.

Ibrahim accused Western leaders, his host included, of being one-sided. He said they concentrate purely on the October 7 H*m*s attack, while neglecting atrocities that Israel has committed against Palestinians since 1948. Scholz, who had spoken earlier, had focused on the repetitive Western message about Israel’s ‘right to defend itself.’

More than 31,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 7th when Israel launched its brutal assault on Gaza. The majority of those killed have been women and children, despite Israeli claims the military operation is targeting H*m*s fighters.

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46 ATTEMPTS TO SPEAK! 1ST BLACK BRITISH WOMAN MP IGNORED

The United Kingdom has been abuzz this week after the Guardian published racially disparaging remarks that the Conservative Party's biggest donor, Frank Hester, a white man, has admitted to making regarding the first Black woman member of parliament, Diane Abbott. During a 2019 meeting at Hester's software company, he said Abbott made him 'want to hate all Black women.'

Labour Party leader Keir Starmer called Hester's comments 'racist and misogynist' during a 13 March exchange on the parliament's floor in which he demanded the Tories return Hester's recent donations totalling $12.7 million USD. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Hester's 'remorse should be accepted.'

During the 35-minute parliamentary session, Starmer and Sunak debated for four minutes. However, according to a Sky News count, Abbott was not allowed to express herself despite trying to get the speaker's attention 46 times.

Continued….Abbott later criticised Starmer for trying to score political points because he had suspended the 70-year-old MP last year for alleged 'anti-semitism.'

Amnesty International's review of tweets in the run-up to the 2017 UK elections found that 20 Black and Asian women MPs were 41 per cent more likely to receive abusive tweets even though white women in the study outnumbered them by a factor of eight. Abbott the most abusive tweets, with 45 per cent directed at her in the six weeks prior to the election.

What do you make of this exchange? Let us know in the comments.

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SOUTH AFRICA F.M.: ‘IT’S A GENOCIDE, IN OUR BELIEF’

South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor recently explained to her party members why the government launched a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

During the 6 March talk at an African National Congress dialogue on South Africa’s solidarity with Palestine, Pandor said South Africa wanted to expose Israel’s crimes against humanity in the United Nations’ highest court. She added the quality and quantity of the evidence left the Israeli defence team with little substantial to say.

On 26 January, the court found in its provisional ruling that Israel was ‘plausibly’ committing genocide against the Palestinians. Despite the ICJ requiring Israel to take action to avoid acts of genocide, reports indicate the attacks and siege have continued. Since 26 January, the military operation has killed an additional 5,000 Palestinians, bringing the total to more than 31,000 Palestinians since the 7 October escalation began.

FRANCE’S RELATIONSHIP WITH AFRICA ILLUSTRATED

France maintains a very unequal and exploitative relationship with Africa and this video perfectly captures the dynamic. Why would 14 African countries have their money controlled from Paris, with a French citizen designated a chair on the board of their central banks? To further paint the picture, what does it cost France to print money to buy actual resources from Africa? For more than five decades, France has been the chief recipient of Nigerien uranium, but communities in Niger have only seen their quality of life worsen. On top of that, France maintains the right of first refusal for Françafrique resources.

Continued….However, Africans have had enough - and, starting with Mali in 2020, have told France to pack its bags. Burkina Faso followed suit in 2022 and Niger a year later. In all these countries, French military, media and diplomats have been expelled. The trio have also created panic in Europe by quitting West African bloc ECOWAS - which is widely seen as a neocolonial puppet body.

Have a watch, have an angry chuckle and let us know if the tables really are turning!

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PEOPLE'S CHAMP VS ISRAEL’S CHUMP

Sports has long been an avenue for political activism. Just recall that iconic image of the Black Power salute by African-American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos in 1968 - or boxing legend Muhammad Ali’s principled and vocal support for the Palestinian people.

But one of today’s major boxing names, Floyd Mayweather, has entered the ring on the other side. He was in Israel this week to express his support for the settler colonial project amidst their brutal onslaught on Gaza.

Continued….A few days after October 7th when Israel had started carpet bombing Gaza, he chartered his private jet to send 5,000 lbs of emergency supplies to Israel. He also visited an IDF base, hosting a BBQ for soldiers there and show-sparring with some of them.

Compare that with Muhammad Ali, who spoke out against the 1967 annexation of East Jerusalem and, in 1988, took part in a pro-Palestinian rally in Chicago during the First Intifada.

Which of these two boxers do you think was/is fighting the good fight?

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ISRAELI LOBBY TARGETS TIKTOK?

You’ve probably heard the US government is trying to ban social media platform TikTok. The House of Representatives has passed a bill targeting the Chinese-owned app over fears it’s a threat to ‘national security.’ However, some feel there are ulterior motives at play.

In this video, political scientist Edward Liger reveals a recording of what is believed to be Jonathan Greenblatt. He’s the CEO of the pro-Zionist Anti-Defamation League and warns TikTok is a major ‘problem’ for the Israel lobby in the US. It seems he’s afraid of its young users pushing anti-Israeli messages.

The recording was made a few months ago, and now the US is looking to censor the platform. Is that just a coincidence? Edward thinks it stinks and says it’s a simple way to gag pro-Palestinian views.

It sure feels that way, given the growing anger over Israel’s brutal bombardment of Gaza. Listen to the clip and give us your thoughts.

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FARRAKHAN: HAITI REVOLUTIONARIES FRIGHTEN WEST

Why is Haiti the continued focus of foreign interventions and disruptive US policy? Louis Farrakhan, the leader of the nation of Islam, summed it up in 30 seconds.

He said the West is scared by the Caribbean Island’s history of revolutionaries that defeated colonial powers. So, here’s a quick look at three of them: François-Dominique Toussaint Louverture, Jean-Jacques Dessalines and Henri Christophe.

Toussaint Louverture was a Haitian general and the most prominent leader of the Haitian Revolution. Known as the ‘Father of Haiti’ he’s remembered as the man who turned a slave rebellion into a revolutionary movement fighting against Napoleon’s Empire. In 1802, Toussaint Louverture was betrayed, captured and sent to prison in France where he died.

Continued….Dessalines then became the main leader of the resistance, the first Haitian Emperor and the first ruler of an independent Haiti. He spearheaded Haiti’s defeat of French forces that were committing massacres and won independence from France in 1804. Under him, Haiti became the first country to abolish slavery in the Americas. Dessalines also freed Santo Domingo (Now the Dominican republic) from French colonial rule. He was assassinated in 1806.

After Dessaline’s death, Henri Christophe retreated to the Plaine-du-Nord and created a separate government. In 1807, he was elected president of the state of Haiti. Later, in 1811, he created a kingdom in the north and became Haiti’s only monarch.

Farrakhan argues these revolutionaries showed a strength that scared the colonialists. And that is why Western nations do not want to see a free Haiti.

What’s your view? And would you like to see more videos on these revolutionary leaders?

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U.S. OFFICIAL LAUGHS ABOUT INVADING COUNTRIES

Invading other countries is no joke unless you’re a U.S. State Department spokesperson. Watch Matthew Miller say straight-faced that his country does not dictate to other countries and then burst out laughing when a reporter quips: ‘Unless we invade them.’

Miller was taking questions over why the U.S. won’t use its leverage to rein in Tel Aviv’s bombardment of Gaza. So far, over 31,000 Palestinians have been killed, and the UN’s top court (ICJ) says it could be genocide.

To suggest the US can’t influence Israel’s actions is ridiculous, considering it arms and funds its close ally. What’s more, the need to protect civilians was the excuse used for the US-led NATO bombing and destruction of Libya in 2011. For some reason, protecting civilians in Gaza is now outside Washington’s remit.

Continued…..Here’s a list of countries the U.S. has invaded since 1945:

1. Korea
2. Vietnam
3. Cuba
4. Grenada
5. Panama
6. Yugoslavia
7. Afghanistan
8. Iraq
9. Syria
10. Libya
11. Somalia
12. Guatemala
13. Nicaragua
14. Lebanon

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21 YEARS SINCE ISRAELI BULLDOZER KILLED RACHEL CORRIE

Today marks 21 years since an Israeli bulldozer crushed to death US activist Rachel Corrie as she was trying to prevent the destruction of Palestinian homes in Rafah city in the Gaza Strip.

This clip plays the voice of her mother, Cindy, who read aloud a 2003 email Rachel had written to her parents. She had described that the Israeli military had been committing atrocities against Palestinians and surveilling them.

One of South Africa’s main points in its case against Israel at the International Court of Justice was that Tel Aviv’s atrocities did not begin on 7 October. The Palestine-Israel conflict started in 1948 after Jewish settlers displaced 750,000 Palestinians—half of the indigenous population—a day after the founding of the state of Israel.